AC Milan History: The Rossoneri's Italian and European Legacy
AC Milan were founded by Englishmen, play in red and black, and have won the European Cup seven times. That's more than any Italian club. They've also produced some of the finest defenders football has seen. Here's the story of the Rossoneri, from 1899 to Sacchi, Capello and Ancelotti, and why a night at the San Siro belongs on every football fan's list. We're not affiliated with the club.
Founded in 1899
The club was founded in Milan in December 1899 as the Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club. English expats were among the founders, notably Herbert Kilpin from Nottingham. That's why the club still uses the English spelling "Milan" rather than the Italian "Milano". According to club tradition, the red and black stand for fire and fear: red for the devils, black for the fear they'd strike into opponents. Hence the nickname "Il Diavolo", the Devil.
Milan won Italian championships in 1901, 1906 and 1907. In 1908 a group left after a dispute over signing foreign players and formed Internazionale, Inter. That gave the city one of the world's great derbies, the Derby della Madonnina.
Becoming a major force
After a long wait, Milan won Serie A in 1951 with the Swedish trio of Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, the "Gre-No-Li". Nordahl remains the club's all-time top scorer. In 1963, with Gianni Rivera in midfield and Nereo Rocco as coach, Milan beat Benfica at Wembley to become the first Italian club to win the European Cup. They won it again in 1969, beating Ajax 4-1 in Madrid.
Berlusconi, Sacchi and the Dutch trio
Silvio Berlusconi bought the club in 1986 and appointed Arrigo Sacchi, a coach who had never played professionally, in 1987. Sacchi's Milan pressed high, held an aggressive offside line and played as a compact unit. It's often cited as one of the most influential teams in history. Franco Baresi and a young Paolo Maldini led the defence. The Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard supplied the flair. Milan won Serie A in 1988, then the European Cup in 1989 (4-0 against Steaua Bucharest in Barcelona) and 1990 (1-0 against Benfica in Vienna).
The Capello years
Fabio Capello took over in 1991 and won four Serie A titles in five seasons. That included a run of 58 league games unbeaten, a Serie A record at the time. The high point was the 1994 Champions League final in Athens, where Milan thrashed Johan Cruyff's Barcelona 4-0. Milan also reached the finals of 1993 and 1995, losing both 1-0.
Ancelotti's Milan
Carlo Ancelotti, a midfielder in Sacchi's team, came back as coach in 2001. In 2003 Milan beat Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford in the first all-Italian Champions League final. The side featured Andriy Shevchenko, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Maldini.
Istanbul and Athens: 2005 and 2007
In 2005 Milan led Liverpool 3-0 at half-time in Istanbul but lost on penalties after Liverpool came back to draw 3-3. Two years later they got revenge in Athens, beating Liverpool 2-1 with two goals from Filippo Inzaghi. Kaká was named Ballon d'Or winner later that year.
Modern Milan
After winning Serie A in 2011, Milan went through a difficult decade. Under Stefano Pioli they won the Scudetto in 2021–22, their 19th league title. They reached the Champions League semi-final in 2023, where they lost to Inter. The club remains one of the most decorated in Europe.
Milan legends
- Paolo Maldini — spent his entire career at Milan and captained the club; his father Cesare also captained Milan.
- Franco Baresi — legendary sweeper; his number 6 shirt was retired.
- Marco van Basten — three-time Ballon d'Or winner whose career was cut short by injury.
- Ruud Gullit — 1987 Ballon d'Or winner and Sacchi's dynamic leader.
- Gianni Rivera — 1969 Ballon d'Or winner, the 'Golden Boy' of Italian football.
- Kaká — 2007 Ballon d'Or winner.
- Andriy Shevchenko — 2004 Ballon d'Or winner and prolific striker.
AC Milan timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1899 | Founded as Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club |
| 1901 | First Italian championship |
| 1908 | Split leads to the founding of Inter |
| 1963 | First European Cup, at Wembley |
| 1969 | Second European Cup |
| 1989 & 1990 | Back-to-back European Cups under Sacchi |
| 1994 | 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League final |
| 2003 | Champions League, against Juventus at Old Trafford |
| 2007 | Seventh European title, against Liverpool in Athens |
| 2022 | 19th Serie A title |
The San Siro and a trip to Milan
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, better known as the San Siro, opened in 1926. Milan share it with Inter, and its spiral towers and steep stands make derby day spectacular. The clubs have discussed plans for a new stadium, so check the latest news before you go. Milan itself has the Duomo, the Galleria, aperitivo culture and a very good pizza scene, so it works brilliantly for a football weekend. Our AC Milan trips page and European getaways explain how we can help. Tickets and hotels are subject to availability and your written quote, and we don't arrange flights.
Frequently asked questions
When was AC Milan founded?
In December 1899, as the Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club.
How many European Cups have AC Milan won?
Seven: 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003 and 2007.
Do AC Milan and Inter share a stadium?
Yes, both play at the San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza).
Why do AC Milan use the English spelling?
Because the club was co-founded by Englishmen, and the English name 'Milan' stuck.
Sources and further reading
Fancy seeing it live? Tickets and packages are subject to availability and confirmation in your written quote. We don't arrange flights.